CCCFCA 2014 Hall of Fame

CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION    MARCH 12, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     CONTACT: Fred Baer       Mobile: 650-483-3733 frdbaer@aol.com

Hall of Fame Inductees: 

Akili Smith, Willy Robinson, Bob Newton, Ricky Ray, Cass Jackson, Mal Eaton, Pete Davis  

Players inducted were:

Akili Smith, Grossmont College (1995-96);

Willy Robinson, College of the Sequoias (1973 and 1975);

Bob Newton, Cerritos College (1967-68);

Ricky Ray, Shasta College (1997-98);

Alumni player/coach:

Cass Jackson (San Jose CC player, 1960-61), Monterey Peninsula coach;

Coach:

Mal Eaton, Mt. San Antonio College (1970-87)

Assistant Coach:

Pete Davis, Chabot College (1976—2013; also head coach five years and Chabot player 1966-67)

Below are inductee capsules, as compiled by CCCFCA Hall of Fame chairman Chris Pappas

AKILI SMITH, PLAYER -­‐ GROSSMONT COLLEGE:

Akili Smith graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in San Diego and signed a professional baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He left professional baseball and changed his focus to football at Grossmont College in 1995. In 1996 he led the Griffins to the best winning season in 20 years, was second in the state in total offense with 2896 yards, and 5th in passing offense. He had many honors in 1996, being named All Conference, All State and All American. The University of Oregon offered him a scholarship, and in 2 years he passed for 43 TD's and 5,148 yards. Akili was the 3rd player chosen in the NFL draft in 1999 and played for the Cincinnati Bengals for 3 years, then with Green Bay, Tampa, NFL Europe and finished his playing career in Calgary in 2007. After retiring from pro football he has coached at the high school and college level. Akili is also a Deacon at Missionary Baptist Church and gives back to the youth of San Diego County working with youth groups He and his wife Tyiesha have 2 daughters and live in San Diego.

MAL EATON, HEAD COACH -­‐ MT. SAN ANTONIO, (posthumously)

A graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of Southern California, Mal Eaton was the first football coach and established the football program at West Covina High School. Eaton NEVER had a losing season at West Covina, compiling a 115-­‐23-­‐6 record. He was selected "COACH OF THE YEAR" 10 TIMES, and was coach of the decade for 1960-­‐1970. He coached at Mt. SAC from 1970 to 1987, winning South Coast Conference titles in 1980 and `82, and won a number of Coach of the Year" honors. In his 36 years of coaching, Mal's football teams had a combined total of 256 wins averaging 7 wins a season. Mal was inducted into the California State Community Colleges Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1993, and the West Covina Hall of Fame at Big League Dreams Park in West Covina. Eaton often sought advice from UCLA's John Wooden and USC football coach John McKay and was just as successful at his craft. This award is long overdue and richly deserved. Mal passed in 2012 and is survived by his wife Linda, daughters Malorie Shipp, Stacey Eaton, and seven grandchildren.

PETE DAVIS, ASSISTANT COACH -­‐ CHABOT COLLEGE

Pete graduated from Castro Valley High in 1965 and played football basketball and baseball, and moved on to Chabot College where he played baseball and was a tight end/tackle in1966 and 67. He moved on to Weber State and played 2 years there and was All Conference and named to the Little All American team in 1969. Continuing his education at Cal Berkeley, he was a graduate Assistant Coach for Ray Wilsey, and in the process earned a Master's degree. In the next 6 years he coached football as an Assistant Coach at Castro Valley High, Chabot College, and The University of Riverside. When he returned to Chabot College in 1976, he spent almost all of his next 37 years teaching Physical Education and Coaching Football. 23 years of that time he was an Assistant Coach and Chabot won eight Golden Gate Conference Championships. When Pete was the assistant coach he coached the defensive line 4 years and the offensive line 12 years. Sandwiched in between those times in coaching the offensive and defensive line, Chabot utilized Pete's knowledge and experience having him Coordinate the Defense 6 years and Coordinate the Offense one year. Pete was the Head Coach for 5 years and won the Golden Gate Conference in 1991. Pete retired this last fall and he and his wife Peg live in Hayward and are enjoying their retirement.

WILLY ROBINSON, PLAYER -­‐ COLLEGE OF SEQUOIAS

Visalia is where Willy began his journey in football, playing for Roger Kelly and Al Branco, who coincidentally are both in the CCCFCA Hall of Fame. As a player at Redwood High playing for Roger Kelly, he was a leader on the 1973 undefeated Valley Championship Team. He continued his education at The College of Sequoias where Al Branco was the head coach. Willy was All Conference as a defensive back and was voted "Giant of the Year" in 1975. Moving on to Fresno State University, and playing for Jim Sweeney, he was a 2 time All-Pacific Coast Defensive Back, as the Bulldogs won the PCAA title in 1977. Willy joined the Fresno State staff as a graduate assistant in 1978 and one year at San Jose State as a G.A. before returning to his Alma Mater. Willy began coaching full time when he returned to Fresno State as an assistant in 1980. He would remain there for the next 14 years. The Bulldogs played in 7 bowl games during his years as a Defensive Back Coach, and Defensive Coordinator Coach. In 1994 he Joined Dennis Erickson, at the University of Miami, and Miami won the Orange Bowl and the "National Championship". 1995 was the year he began his journey in the NFL, following Dennis Erickson to the Seattle Seahawks for 3 years. After a 3 year adventure with Seattle, Willy spent 1 year with Oregon State University, then 3 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers where they won their conference and played in the AFC Championship game. In 2004 he returned to the West Coast with Erickson and the Forty Niners. 2005 was spent with the New Orleans Saints and he topped off his PRO coaching career with 2 years at St. Louis with the Rams. Willy polished off his coaching career at the University of Arkansas as the Defensive Coordinator, and the Razor backs played in 3 major bowl games, as the Liberty Bowl Champions in 2009, Sugar Bowl runner ups in 1010, and in his final season of coaching 2011, they were Cotton Bowl Champions. Willy is now retired from coaching. His Mom and Dad still reside in Visalia. He and his wife Susan, have 3 children, Mallory, and Brittany, and son Morgan. Susan and Willy make their home in the Los Angeles area.

BOB NEWTON, PLAYER -­‐ CERRITOS COLLEGE

Bob played at John Glenn high School in Los Angeles and was an outstanding player. He had God given ability, was fast, big, strong, and was driven. He moved in to Cerritos and continued his football career and Earned All-­‐Metro Honors, and Outstanding Lineman and All-­‐America mention before heading to Nebraska in 1969 to finish his collegiate career. 1970 was a banner year, and Nebraska won the National Championship. Bob was a consensus All American Tackle, and Big 8 player of the week 4 times that season. He was perceived to be one of the best offensive tackles in the nation. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1971, he replaced the Bears' team captain Jim Cadile at Guard. Jim coincidentally is also in the CCCFA. Bob played for Chicago until moving to the Seattle Seahawks in 1976, where he finished his career and retired in 1981. In 12 years of professional football, Bob played in 142 games and averaged 12 games per season, a phenomenal record. His next big step was to join the Nebraska football staff as a graduate assistant for Tom Osborne, and he earned his degree and graduated. Bob has worked in the chemical dependency field since 1986 as a counselor, educator, and administrator. He has worked in many school systems presenting numerous lectures and seminars regarding prevention of substance abuse. He was a consultant to the Seattle Seahawks football team for 10 years. Bob is the Director of Business Development for the Betty Ford Center in Palm Desert, California. Bob has not strayed from football as he is coaching as an Assistant at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert

CASS JACKSON ALUMNI/PLAYER/ COACH

Cass grew up in San Jose and was an outstanding athlete in 3 sports at San Jose High School, football, basketball, and baseball. He was an All-league player in football and baseball. He transferred to San Jose City College in 1960 where he was awarded All Coast Conference halfback honors in both of his years. Continuing to stay at home he enrolled at San Jose State where he played both ways "O" and "D" and as a senior in 1963 averaged 58 minutes a game. In 1964 he continued his playing career, 3 years of Canadian League Football, and in 1970, the Continental League with the Philadelphia Bulldogs when they were League Champions and were coached by Wayne Harden, who is also in the CCCFCA Hall of Fame. His coaching career began in 1968 as the freshman coach at San Jose State and which was followed by a move to Merritt College, then to San Jose High as the head coach, and again back to San Jose state as the defensive backfield coach. The next step that Cass took was one of the largest steps he took in his life. In 1973 He became the head coach at Oberlin College in Ohio, at the time he was only the SECOND AFRICAN-­‐AMERICAN HEAD FOOTBALL COACH at a non-historically black college in the NCAA. Eddie Robinson, former football coach at Grambling University, said "The world of college football sports benefited greatly by Oberlin giving Cass the opportunity to show that African Americans CAN INDEED COACH". When Cass left Oberlin in 1975, Cass was the only Oberlin coach in 44 years to have a .500 winning record. His accomplishments were noted in Sports Illustrated, Time Magazine, and with a nationally broadcast interview with Howard Cosell. Art Shell, the FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN head coach in the NFL said "Thanks to you for helping to open the doors for the Denny Greens, the Ray Rhodes, the Tony Dungy's and many others who followed the path that you blazed". Cass moved on to head coaching positions at Morris Brown and at the age of 34, head coach at Southern University, then as an assistant at Stanford, Head coach at Gavilan and West Valley colleges. 1986, was his last stop at Monterey Peninsula College, as an assistant coach. He also was the interim head football coach at MPC for one year and was the head track coach for 26 years until his retirement in 2012. Cass is retired and married to Sandy. They have 3 children: his daughters Zari and Thanayi (who has a doctorate in education) and his son Malik (who coaches football at DeAnza College). Baseball Hall of Fame member, FRANK ROBINSON SAID "YOU WERE TO BLACK COACHES WHAT JACKIE ROBINSON WAS TO BLACK ATHLETES, THANK YOU FOR PAVING THE WAY".

RICKY RAY, PLAYER -­‐ SHASTA COLLEGE

Ricky began playing at Shasta in 1997 not far from his home of Happy Camp near Redding. He shattered numerous records at Shasta. Several records of note were 36 completions vs., Merced and 6 TD's, plus 3 more rushing tying a state record of 9 TD's. He passed for 33 TD's and in his 2nd year completed 199 consecutive passes without an interception. In 1998 he was All Conference and State Offensive Player of the Year in California and was a J.C. ALL-­‐AMERICAN. Transferring to Sacramento State University in 1999 he continued his record setting and still holds the completion percentage of 61.9%. After his collegiate career he had a brief tryout with the 49'ers and then played Arena football for the Fresno Frenzy. In 7 games he threw 25 TD's. In 2002, Ray made the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian league and made his first start against the B.C. Lions, throwing for 4 touchdowns. HIs first year stats were an amazing 2,991 yards passing, 24 touchdowns, and only 9 interceptions with the highest quarterback rating in the league. He led the team to the Grey Cup Championship game, which is the Canadian Football symbolic Super Bowl. In 2003 Ray led the Edmond Eskimos to his first of 3 GREY CUP Championships, 2 with Edmonton and then later, one with Toronto in 2012. With the success he had in the Grey Cup, Ray wanted to attempt to make it in the NFL. In 2004 he signed with the New York Jets but that season didn't work out and he returned to Edmonton in 2005, and again led them to the Grey Cup and was the MVP in the game. In 2006 he led the CFL in passing and he again led the team to the Grey Cup. Ray surpassed CFL and NFL Hall-­‐of-­‐Famer Warren Moon, who is also in the CCCFCA HOF, for career passing yards. In 2008, Ricky had another great year setting personal and league records of 608 pass attempts and a 69.8% completion for a league leading, career best. In 2009 he had a game where he completed 23 of 25 passes for 302 and 2 TD's. 2010 and 2011 were good years, but not as outstanding as some of the previous years, although he had completion percentages of 64% and 65 %. Ricky was traded in 2012, to Toronto. He led the Argonauts and they won the 100th Grey Cup and Ricky's third. In 2013 Ray had a streak of 222 consecutive pass attempts without throwing an interception. He set single season records of highest completion percentage (77%) most completions (479), highest game with completions (95%) and highest QB rating in a season. In 2013 the Argos extended Ray's contract through the 2015 CFL year. He and his wife Allyson have a daughter Chloe and live in Redding.